Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and a Pig Latin sound trick ties the sports trivia to a playful denial, with everyday vocabulary filling out the grid. Come on in and let the familiar clues give you a foothold.
How The Mini Works
The Mini is a compact version of the classic NYT Crossword, typically featuring a 5x5 grid with five Across and five Down clues. Saturdays expand to a larger grid with more clues. Solve the intersecting words, and when the grid is complete, you'll hear a satisfying chime. No streak tracking here, but the built-in timer lets you compete against yourself or challenge friends.
New puzzles drop at 10 p.m. EST on weekdays and Saturdays. Sunday's Mini arrives earlier at 6 p.m. EST on Saturday.
Quick Scan
In a rush? Here's the at-a-glance breakdown for today's puzzle:
Grid Size: 6x5
Total Clues: 11 (5 Across, 6 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 8A is the trickiest clue because it asks you to hear a Pig Latin transformation of 7A, then connect that sound to a denial.
Gimme Clue: 6D is the clearest gimme, with a direct winter-sport prompt pointing to an action on snowy slopes.
Theme Spotted: A Pig Latin sound link between 7A and 8A.
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Wine barrel
Hint: 1A: Think of a wooden vessel used to hold and age wine. Four letters, starts with C.
5A. Leader of the Pussycats, in comics and film
Hint: 5A: Think of the fictional musician who leads the feline-named band in both comics and film. Five letters, starts with J.
6A. In a nutshell
Hint: 6A: Read the phrase as an adverb meaning plainly or without complication. Six letters, starts with S.
7A. 2026 N.B.A. champions
Hint: 7A: Look to the New York NBA team that plays at Madison Square Garden. Six letters, starts with K.
8A. Denial that sounds like 7-Across in Pig Latin
Hint: 8A: Say the team name from 7A aloud, then move its opening consonant sound to the end and add the Pig Latin ending. Five letters, starts with I.
Down Hints
1D. "Santa Claus Is ___ to Town" (holiday hit)
Hint: 1D: Complete the holiday song title with a casual form of the verb meaning arriving. Five letters, starts with C.
2D. Pet adoption org.
Hint: 2D: Think of the initials of the American animal-welfare organization whose name refers to preventing cruelty. Five letters, starts with A.
3D. Like the texture of fine bedsheets
Hint: 3D: Picture fabric that feels smooth and luxurious against your skin. Five letters, starts with S.
4D. Bad things to leave locked in your house
Hint: 4D: Think of the objects you need to unlock the door and get back inside. Four letters, starts with K.
5D. "We said the same thing at the same time!"
Hint: 5D: Recall the playful exclamation that follows accidentally speaking in unison. Four letters, starts with J.
6D. Hit the slopes
Hint: 6D: Think of gliding downhill on snow with long equipment attached to your boots. Three letters, starts with S.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Wine barrel
Answer: CASK
5A. Leader of the Pussycats, in comics and film
Answer: JOSIE
6A. In a nutshell
Answer: SIMPLY
7A. 2026 N.B.A. champions
Answer: KNICKS
8A. Denial that sounds like 7-Across in Pig Latin
Answer: IXNAY
Down Answers
1D. "Santa Claus Is ___ to Town" (holiday hit)
Answer: COMIN
2D. Pet adoption org.
Answer: ASPCA
3D. Like the texture of fine bedsheets
Answer: SILKY
4D. Bad things to leave locked in your house
Answer: KEYS
5D. "We said the same thing at the same time!"
Answer: JINX
6D. Hit the slopes
Answer: SKI
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 8A, "Denial that sounds like 7-Across in Pig Latin," gives IXNAY and defines the grid's playful streak. It turns the sound of KNICKS into a slang denial, making the sports answer do double duty.
Wordplay Winner: 4D wins the everyday misdirection with KEYS. "Bad things to leave locked in your house" might first suggest dangerous belongings, but the problem is being outside without the objects that let you back in.
Quick Fill: SKI at 6D is the fastest confident fill because "Hit the slopes" points directly to the verb. Its S, K and I start SIMPLY, KNICKS and IXNAY, giving you a foothold in the lower Across entries.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Fill direct physical clues such as CASK and SKI before tackling the linked wordplay. When 8A sends you to KNICKS, work with its pronunciation to reach IXNAY.
Let crossings settle the exact form of a familiar phrase. The holiday-song answer is COMIN, so recognizing the song is your entry point and checking the intersecting Across answers confirms the shortened spelling.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The familiar vocabulary gives this grid a welcoming start, while IXNAY supplies the satisfying twist. The payoff comes when the basketball name becomes something you can hear a different way.
See you at the next grid.
